The Music and Spanish Winter Concerts were a resounding success, showcasing the exceptional talents of our Lower Campus students.
To begin, the Sierra Canyon Chamber Ensemble, comprised of our most advanced musicians, greeted guests with holiday tunes upon entering the Lower School Amphitheater. Students performed a variety of songs, creating a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere. Pre-Kindergarten students also enchanted the audience with a scarf dance to Trepak. Dr. Deutsch and Mr. Pourghazi firmly advocate introducing even the youngest Trailblazers to diverse musical instruments, theories, and practices, underscoring the significance of early exposure. According to Dr. Deutsch, "Scarf dances teach the students to listen to the patterns and beats, learning to predict the movements before they even come. Smaller motions for soft sections and larger motions for louder sections teach students intuitively about dynamics through performance."
Both concerts featured an integration of various instruments played by students in 1st through 5th Grade, each choosing their preferred one. Mr. Pourghazi emphasized the importance of this choice, stating, "Allowing students the opportunity to choose their instrument is super important because it helps them to stay engaged with an instrument they feel is a good fit for themselves...giving them joy and encouraging them to practice and make progress." This collective musical experience lies at the heart of Sierra Canyon's Music program. Exposure to instruments such as the violin, viola, cello, xylophone, ukulele, and piano starts early, with a deeper exploration of string instruments from 3rd Grade onwards. The culmination of these efforts sees students confidently playing orchestral pieces in 5th and 6th Grade.
Ms. Zurek highlighted the enriching experience of acquiring a second language through music. While students enjoy singing, they also deepen their understanding of Spanish words by incorporating expressive hand motions into their performances. The carefully curated musical repertoire for the Winter Concert aligns seamlessly, intending to enhance students' language skills. A pair of 1st Grade and 4th Grade students memorized a conversation entirely in Spanish. In the Spanish classroom, the students focus on building confidence in speaking another language, refining pronunciation, expanding vocabulary, and honing their speaking and listening skills.
The concerts served as a compelling platform to showcase the remarkable endeavors of students, creating a harmonious blend of language acquisition and musical expression at Sierra Canyon.
#SCLowerSchool #SCMusic
